NORMAL, Ill. – ISU head coach Brock Spack and his staff announced the 2021 Illinois State football early signing class Wednesday, as 18 student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent on National Signing Day and two preferred walk-ons were added to the roster.
The group includes 13 offensive players, five defensive standouts, one athlete and one kicker.
"This class touches a lot of different areas of our team and helps fill some needs at certain positions," Spack said. "The coaches and all the staff did a great job of putting this class together. We had to be creative with how we recruited this group due to the pandemic, but we spent a lot of time back in March talking to these guys and getting them to commit early. We are extremely happy with where we are at and think we have a great group of student-athletes and young men joining our program."
2021 ILLINOIS STATE FOOTBALL SIGNING DAY BIOGRAPHIES:
Sean Allen | RB | 5-10 | 200 | Glenwood, Illinois (Homewood-Flossmoor HS)
Homewood-Flossmoor HS: Played two varsity seasons for head coach Craig Buzea … posted a remarkable 2019 campaign as a junior, rushing for a school-record 2,082 yards and 25 touchdowns to become the school's all-time leading rusher … earned Chicago Sun-Times first-team all-area honors and was an all-conference first-team selection at running back … had six rushing touchdowns as a sophomore in 2018.
Personal: Born November 8, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Marc and Angie Allen ... one of four children … member of the honor roll … related to Illinois State all-time leading rusher Marshaun Coprich.
Bobby Babcock | LB | 6-0 | 230 | Hobart, Indiana (Hobart HS)
Hobart HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Craig Osika ... combined for 176 tackles, 24 sacks and 77 TFLs over final two prep seasons ... also added 16 forced fumbles, recovered four fumbles and had two interceptions ... helped team to a state runner-up finish in final season, going 12-3 overall ... was among the ten players named 2020 Mr. Football position awardees by the Indiana Football Coaches Association and received the accolade as Indiana's top linebacker ... earned Top 50 all-state first-team honors as well as all-area plaudits ... senior season concluded with 68 tackles, 36 TFLs, ten sacks, and 18 quarterback hurries ... recorded nine sacks, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, two blocked punts, and one rushing touchdown in a dominant performance against Griffith in week three ... as a junior, helped team reach the Indiana Class 4A northern semistate title game for the first time since 1996 ... Post-Tribune first team all-area selection that season, finishing with 84 tackles, 15 sacks and eight forced fumbles ... recorded 32 tackles, four TFLs and two sacks as a sophomore ... named a freshman all-American and was a member of the U.S. National U16 Football Team ... also a standout wrestler for four seasons.
Personal: Born September 4, 2002 in Michigan City, Indiana ... son of Larry and Cathleen (deceased) Babcock ... has one brother (Michael) and one sister (Danielle) ... member of the honor roll.
Jeff Bowens | ATH | 5-9 | 160 | Southfield, Michigan (Southfield A&T HS)
Southfield A&T HS: Two-year starter at Southfield for head coach Tim Conley … earned all-conference honors as a senior, while recording 22 catches for over 700 yards with six touchdowns on offense … was also a standout at defensive back on defense, recording a pair of interceptions on the season … as a junior, tallied 14 catches for 350 yards with four touchdowns … recorded 18 tackles on defense that season … caught 16 passes for over 300 yards with five touchdowns as a sophomore while playing at Detroit Renaissance … star on the track as well, as an all-American qualifier in the 60-meter dash with the fourth best time in the state of Michigan clocking in at 6.99 seconds in the 60-meter dash … was part of a Southfield 4x200 meter relay team that turned in a blistering time of 1:26.9 which was the No. 1 time in the U.S. … was also an AAU Track National Qualifier during his prep career.
Personal: Born November 11, 2003, in Detroit, Michigan ... son of Jeffrey and Kyra Bowens … youngest of five children … member of the honor roll every year of high school career.
J'Kalon Carter | WR | 6-0 | 170 | Aubrey, Texas (Braswell HS)
Braswell HS: Two-year starter at Braswell for head coach Cody Moore … started all 10 games and recorded 54 receptions for 833 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior … ranked as the No. 1 receiver in the district and the No. 4 receiver in the 6A area … academic all-state selection … as a junior, tallied 43 receptions for 604 yards and three touchdowns … earned first-team all-district honors at wide receiver, while helping team to the second round of the state playoffs with a 9-3 overall record … earned academic all-state honors and second-team all-area honors as a junior as well … started all 12 games and was ranked the No. 3 receiver in the district.
Personal: Born December 8, 2002, in Shreveport, Louisiana ... son of Adrian and Shenita Carter … oldest of our children … his father, Adrian, played baseball at Louisiana Tech and his grandfather, Victor, played basketball at Louisiana Tech … his great-grandfather, Alvin, played professional football with the Los Angeles Raiders.
Carter DeGraaf | OL | 6-6 | 310 | Hudsonville, Michigan (Center Grove [Ind.] HS)
Center Grove HS: Played senior season at Center Grove in Indiana for head coach Eric Moore … started all 14 games on the offensive line, earning All-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference first-team honors and all-academic team plaudits … helped team to a perfect 14-0 record and a Class 6A state championship … team was ranked top-10 in the country by USA Today … earned Indiana Football Coaches Association senior all-state honors as well … earned district and regional championships as a junior while starting at left tackled for Hudsonville High School in Michigan.
Personal: Born March 14, 2003 in Grand Rapids, Michigan ... son of Dave and Michelle DeGraaf … has one brother, Justin … his father, Dave, was a handball player who competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics.
Timothy Dorsey | QB | 6-0 | 190 | Olathe, Kansas (Bishop Miege HS)
Bishop Miege HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Jon Holmes … played in 10 games as a senior, passing for 2,261 yards with 23 touchdown passes … also rushed for over 400 yards with eight touchdowns on the ground as a team captain … earned all-conference and all-state honors … threw for 3,026 yards and 45 touchdowns as a junior in 2019, while rushing for over 200 yards and four touchdowns … helped team to an 11-2 overall record and a state championship, its sixth-consecutive title … was nearly unstoppable under center in the championship game, scoring seven total touchdowns as the Stags rolled to a 61-point win … earned all-conference and all-state honors that season as well … was a three-sport athlete at Bishop Miege, also lettering in basketball and track.
Personal: Born January 10, 2003, in Shawnee, Kansas ... son of Tim and Yvonne Dorsey … has an older sister, Elise … his father, Tim, was a collegiate student-athlete at Lincoln University … recorded a 3.75 GPA for three-straight years to earn honors.
Jack Dwyer | DB | 6-0 | 185 | Hawthorn Woods, Illinois (Lake Zurich HS)
Lake Zurich HS: Two-year player for head coach Ron Planz … played in seven games as a junior, averaging 113 yards per game on the ground and scoring eight touchdowns as a team captain … earned all-conference honors while helping team to a state playoff quarterfinal appearance … team was state runner-up as a junior in 2018 … played in 11 games that season as a sophomore, averaging 85 yards per game on the ground and scoring four touchdowns.
Personal: Born November 25, 2000 in Libertyville, Illinois ... son of Jon and Leslie Dwyer … has an older sister, Grace, and an older brother, Luke … his older brother, Luke, plays football at North Dakota State and his father, Jon, played football at Army and Kent State.
Reese Edwards | LB | 6-3 | 215 | Springfield, Illinois (Sacred Heart-Griffin HS)
Sacred Heart-Griffin HS: Four-year letterman and three-year starter for head coach Ken Leonard … led team and conference in tackles as a junior in 2019, earning Central State 8 all-conference honors … helped team advance to the semifinals of the state playoffs … paced the team and conference in total tackles as a sophomore as well, while being named to the all-conference squad … helped team to a semifinal berth in the state playoffs that season as well … also a standout on the track and in wrestling as well for the Cyclones … has posted a 93-24 career record on the mat, going 40-6 last season while earning a regional and sectional championship and was a state finalist.
Personal: Born August 2, 2002 in Decatur, Illinois ... son of Pete and Carol Edwards … middle of three brothers … his father, Pete, played football and ran track at Eastern Illinois … his brother, Grant, currently plays football at EIU … member of the honor roll every semester of prep career.
Ryan Gudaitis | OL | 6-4 | 260 | Arlington Heights, Illinois (John Hersey HS)
Hersey HS: Three-year letterwinner for head coach Joe Pardun … started all 11 games of junior season in 2019, allowing no sacks on the year … won the Hersey Football Most Improved Award while helping the team to a 9-2 record and a No. 4 ranking in class 7A playoffs … team also went 9-2 during sophomore season, ranking No. 9 in class 7A … is a three-sport standout for the Huskies, also lettering in basketball and baseball.
Personal: Born February 17, 2003, in Arlington Heights, Illinois ... son of Sean and Cathy Gallagher-Gudaitis … youngest of three children … his brother, Quinn, plays baseball at Illinois Wesleyan and his sister, Cate, participates in track and field at Carroll University … his mother, Cathy, was a swimmer at Eastern Illinois and his father, Sean, played basketball at Daley College … named three times each to the A and B honor roll … member of the National Honor Society.
Ryan Heffelfinger | OL | 6-0 | 270 | Sterling, Illinois (Sterling HS)
Sterling HS: Two-year letterwinner for head coach Jon Schlemmer … helped team to a 10-1 record as a junior in 2019 and a Western Big 6 conference title … earned first-team all-conference honors and Sauk Valley Media All-Area team honors … named a Class 5A all-state academic team member … played as a sophomore at Newman Central Catholic for head coach Mike Papoccia, helping the team to a 10-2 overall record … a three-sport standout, also competing in wrestling and baseball.
Personal: Born May 2, 2003 in Sterling, Illinois ... son of Tim and Amy Heffelfinger … has an older sister, Kassidy, who also attends Illinois State … his father, Tim, played football at Northwestern … member of the honor roll.
Nick Kessler | TE | 6-6 | 230 | Marysville, Ohio (Marysville HS)
Marysville HS: Two-year starter for head coach Brent Johnson … earned honorable mention honors following senior season, after helping team to a conference championship and the second round of the state playoffs ... played in 11 games as a junior in 2019, earning scholar-athletes honors as the team advanced to the first round of the playoffs and shared a conference title … multi-sport letterwinner, also completing on the basketball court and the track.
Personal: Born August 9, 2002 in Marysville, Ohio ... son of Andrew and Valerie Kessler … has an older brother, Anthony, who plays football at Ashland University … his uncle, Tony Pannunzio, played cornerback at Youngstown State and his great uncle, Arthur DeCarlo, played football at Georgia and later was drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers … four-year scholar athlete.
Aidan Kinnaird | OL | 6-5 | 320 | Austin, Texas (Westlake HS)
Westlake HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach Todd Dodge … helped lead team to an 8-0 regular season, a district championship and a playoff appearance as a senior in 2020 … named the team's Most Productive Offensive Lineman as a team captain … named to Dave Campbell's Watchlist for the 2020 Whataburger Texas Super Team … earned a spot in the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl … as a junior in 2019, started all 15 games and earned first-team all-district honors … helped team to a 15-1 record and 6A II State Championship … started on special teams as a sophomore while helping the team earn a regional championship.
Personal: Born November 12, 2002 in Austin, Texas ... son of John and Lanette Kinnaird … youngest of four children.
Cameron Nelson | WR | 6-0 | 175 | Dallas, Texas (Kimball HS)
Kimball HS: Standout wide receiver, defensive back and kick returner for head coach Henry Cofer … three-year starter at those various positions … two-time all-district honorable mention selection … team captain.
Personal: Born January 21, 2002 in Texarkana, Texas … son of Willie Nelson Latoya Thompson … oldest of three children.
Scotty Presson | FB | 6-3 | 240 | Florissant, Missouri (East St. Louis HS)
East St. Louis HS: In first year at East St. Louis … played previous three seasons at Trinity Catholic in St. Louis … recorded 12 catches for 233 yards with three touchdowns as a junior … recorded 71 tackles, four TFLs and two interceptions on defense, while helping team advance to the district playoffs … as a sophomore in 2018, caught four passes for 85 yards and accounted for three touchdowns … posted 26 tackles, three TFLs and one sack as team won a district title and a class 3A state championship with a 13-2 overall record.
Personal: Born August 29, 2002 in St. Louis, Missouri … son of Scott Sr. and Victoria Smith … one of four children.
Tommy Rittenhouse | QB | 5-11 | 180 | Geneva, Illinois (St. Francis HS)
St. Francis HS: Two-year starter for head coach Bob McMillen … completed 132 attempts for 1,967 yards and rushed for 493 yards while accounting for 29 total touchdowns as a junior in 2019 … named the Metro Suburban Conference Offensive MVP and also earned all-conference, all-area honors while being named an all-state honorable mention selection … helped team to a conference championship and a berth in the quarterfinals of the state playoffs … during sophomore season in 2018, threw for 1,424 yards and 24 touchdowns while earning all-conference, all-county and all-area honors … earned academic all-state plaudits.
Personal: Born September 9, 2002 in Geneva, Illinois … son of John and Jennifer Rittenhouse … has two sisters, Hannah and Elle … his sister, Hannah, plays soccer at Iowa … his cousin, Demetrius Jackson, played basketball at Notre Dame and in the NBA with the Celtics … member of the high honor roll.
Jarrett Strate-Lutzow | TE | 6-7 | 225 | Rockford, Illinois (Hononegah HS)
Hononegah HS: Joined the football team as a junior in 2019, playing for head coach Brian Zimmerman … helped team to an 8-3 record and the second round of the state playoffs … also a standout on the basketball court, earning all-area honors.
Personal: Born April 17, 2003 in Rockford, Illinois … son of Dana Strate and Pamela Lutzow … four-year honor roll member.
Boden Turner | OL | 6-4 | 260 | Manteno, Illinois (St. Rita HS)
St. Rita HS: Four-year player for head coach Todd Kuska … named a team leader for upcoming spring 2021 season … St. Rita is ranked in the top 10 in the preseason poll … named a first-team all-conference performer on the offensive line as a junior in 2019, earning the team's most outstanding junior player award … helped team to a 10-3 record, a conference title and a state runner-up finish in the playoffs … also a letterwinner in baseball for St. Rita, helping the team to a third-place finish in the state tournament as a sophomore.
Personal: Born October 1, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois … son of Matt and Sheila Turner … has a younger sister, Rachel.
Ian Wagner | K | 6-2 | 210 | Sierra Vista, Arizona (O'Fallon [Ill.] HS)
O'Fallon HS: Started all four years for head coach Byron Gettis … earned all-city, all-area and all conference honors each of the past three seasons … as a junior in 2019, earned first team all-SWC honors as a punter, averaging 40.2 yards per kick, including nine inside the 20-yard line … as a placekicker, went 21-of-22 on extra point tries and made six-of-seven field goal attempts … was ranked as the No. 1 kicker in the U.S. at one point … also a standout on the basketball court at O'Fallon.
Personal: Born January 13, 2003 in Springfield, Illinois … son of Kenneth and Sheila Wagner … has two older siblings, Tanner and Amy.
Cam Wilson | DB | 5-11 | 170 | Cedar Hill, Texas (Trinity Christian HS)
Trinity Christian HS: Played final two seasons at Trinity Christian for head coach Andre Hart … saw action in three games in senior season recording a pair of interceptions … as a junior in 2019, played in 13 games while helping team to a TAPPS 5A championship … recorded an interception and also recorded 928 all-purpose yards as a kick and punt returner … accounted for nine total touchdowns and earned second-team defensive honors … played in six games as a sophomore at Bishop Dunne High School with one interception while helping team to a TAPPS 6A championship … also competed in track at Bishop Dunne.
Personal: Born September 26, 2002 in Tulsa, Oklahoma … son of Cedric and Shar Wilson … has an older brother, Cedric II, who plays soccer in college … member of the honor roll.
Wenkers Wright | RB | 6-1 | 185 | Floyds Knobs, Indiana (Floyd Central HS)
Floyd Central HS: Four-year letterwinner for head coach James Bragg … ranks No. 4 in school history in career rushing yards (4,197) rushing touchdowns (51) and points scored (326) … ranks No. 5 and 6, respectively, with single-game rushing marks of 362 yards and 355 yards … earned offensive MVP honors all four years of his career … rushed for 1,319 yards and 20 touchdowns in senior season to earn all-conference and Indiana 5A Senior All-State honors … as a junior in 2018, rushed for 2,094 yards and 26 touchdowns on way to being named and all-conference and all-state selection … helped lead team to a sectional championship for the first time in 10 years … carried the ball 118 times for 809 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore … also a four-year standout on the track as a three-time MVP.
Personal: Born November 21, 2001 in Haiti … son of Shawn and Betsy Wright … has four siblings … NexGen Leadership of Southern Indiana Graduate … honor student and member of the National Honor Society.
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